The applicability of commitment models in a unionized professional workplace

Abstract

Purpose – The changing dynamics of current workplaces and the increasing employment of professionals in large bureaucratic organizations calls for a renewed examination of commitment at work. This study assesses a three-component model of professional commitment in a unionized environment to determine the applicability of a three-component model of professional commitment and its effect on participation in union and professional activities. This paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – A cross-sectional survey of licensed practical nurses tests the validity of a three-component model of professional commitment concurrent with union commitment; the impact of commitment on varying levels of participation in union and professional activities is examined. Findings – Support is found for a three component of professional commitment based on Meyer and Allen's model of organizational commitment. Normative professional commitment has an inverse relationship to outcomes compared to professional affective commitment and union affective commitment, eflecting the professional socialization process. Research limitations/implications – Sample size limits the generalizability of the findings. A larger study, with longitudinal design, would contribute to understanding the operation of union and professional commitment in the same workplace. Practical implications – Support for a variety of union and professional activities is linked to both union and professional commitment, indicating there may be shared values motivating participation in these activities. It may be possible to overcome the negative association between normative commitment and engagement in activities through emphasis on affective commitment to both the union and the profession. Originality/value – The findings are important for the increasing number of professionals employed in unionized settings, particularly in the public sector, whose collective bargaining rights are being threatened.